The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-03-19
DE SM..N!!!;.,'I'. T,
THE SEAT OF JUSTICE AND
METROPOLIS OF KINGS
BURY COUNTY.
A PROSPEROUS YOUNG CITY, THE
CENTER OF WONDERFUL
RESOURCES.

Schools, Churches. Railroads and Soei
ety-A Glimpse ut the Surroundings,
Revealing County Unsurpassed il
Beauty and Fertility-A Complete Re-
view OF Business Interests. Busincs,
Men, and Business Enterprises.
1t is little over nine years since the
writer first set foot upon Dakota soil
an interval of time that includes about
all there is Of DakOta's development
worth alluding to. To the man who is
unacquainted with its history, the most
truthful record Of its past advancement
towards civilization, will seem the very
height of eXaggeratlon. Nine years
ago there was less than two hundred
miles of railroad in the territory. and
the entire white population Of Dakota
at that time did not exceed 5000 souls
At that time there was less than score
of towns and villages within its borders
the most important being, lankton,
Sioux Falls, Bismarck and Deadwood d.
De Smet. Huron, Mitchell Pierre,
Aberdeen. and hundreds of other towns
that dot the map of Dakota TODAY.
We're at that time unthought Of To-
day there is more than three thousand
miles of railroad in operation i'll the
territory, and more than ha.f a million
Of people find homes within its bound
AIRY lines. During an interval OF the
past eight or nine years the country
has advanced from condition Of al
most absolute wilderness. to state of
civilization scarcely inferior 10 that of
Iowa, Minnesota or Wisconsin. Pop
ulous cities. ANA horishing villages
greet the eve of the traveller at frequent
intervals, as he glides rapidly over the
country on tracks Of steel. Schools.
colleges, and universities have arisen
pheniX like from the bosom Of the
plain. and civilization has spread like
flames before the breeze, over tins prai-
rie empire.
lii the cXtrayagent expenditure of
her gems, nowhere pcihaps, has uatLre
been more lavish &C her wealth than in
the region designated as sCUtheas, e.n
Dakota Tie almost lim.tlesS cNVause
Of undulating prairie comprised in this
particular section and of which Kings
bufy county forms a conspicuous part,
is undoubtedly one Of 1be faiiCst
n0bIest regions Of country 10 be found
on the American continent. II com
bincs more elements Of wealth and
prosperity 10 the agliculturalst, rcr.
haps. than any similar area Of tae prai
RE states.
lii order that tie reader may gain
more fully proper conception of the
condition AID development Of the
country. and more correctly estimate
future possibilities, it would be well.
perhaps, to submit briefly a retrospect
i've view Of the same contrast as il
were the present with the past. Scarce
~ decade has passed away since this
entire region existed in the primitive
state with no trace Of civilization 10 be
seen, no railroads. no cities or villages,
no golden tinted fields, naught but q
limiilpsS eXpanse bedecked only in the
robes with which nature had clothed
it, lis only inhabitants. the deer, the
elk, the buffalo, and wandering bands
OF Sioux Indians. This was virtually
the condition of the country SO recently
as half score Of years ago, and who
that views this region at the present
wealth and prosperity, its railroads,
its populous cities and tlourishing vii
lagos, its crop-laden farms, and its
hocks and herds. will deny the wonder
full development Of the past, or the
prospects of the future. \ country
that is teeming with all the numerous
resources that nature brings 10 aid in
the development Of superior civiliza-
ton; country rich in agricultural
possibilities, and endowed with
all the material requirements neces-
sary to make it rich and prosper
Gus, fertile and productive soil, a
healthful climate, abundance of good
pure water, a pleasing landscape are
AL among the elements that have con-
tributed to a growth and development
unprecedented III the annals of modern
civilization.
1t is beyond the scope of our province
however, TO speak-eXcept in brief gen
eralities perhaps only Of that partic-
ular area comprised i'll Kingsbury
county, and more especially OF De
Smet its capitol, or seat of justice.
HISTORY.
| 1t is not our purpose to detail the
incidents attending the origin of De
Smet, but to chronicle briefly the events
| Of the past few years Of its existence
Its history is not unlike many Others
of the new towns that are constantly
springing into life throughout the en-
tire northwest, and may he recorded il
few words.
Nine years ago not a human habita
ton marked the spot where now stand:
IN enterpr;sing and populous city
First came the surveying corps of The
Dakota Central railroad company, thei
the construction party, followed b!
the iron horse. then came the peopl,
who comprise the citizens of one Of tn,
best towns in southern Dakota. Thi
in rude outline is the history Of ID,
I l.,